Manual scavengers still at work

The sewer, connecting internal lanes on the 100 Feet Road, was overflowing for days.

COIMBATORE: Days after municipal administration minister SP Velumani announced in the state assembly that no local body resorted to manual scavenging, sanitary workers of the city corporation were seen cleaning an open sanitary sewer with bare hands at Gandhipuram, right in the heart of the city, on Wednesday. The sewer, connecting internal lanes on the 100 Feet Road, was overflowing for days. After receiving complaints from the public, the corporation decided to unclog it. But instead of using suction-cum-jetting machines, it deployed sanitary workers to clean the drain, that too without providing protective gear. “The men, who were permanent employees of the corporation, got into the drain to unclog it. They had no gloves or masks,” said A Dennis, an advocate, who chanced upon them. “Though I tried to stop them and asked them to come out of the muck, the workers were reluctant as they were afraid of the supervisor. They came out after I threatened to escalate the issue,” he told TOI. Regardless of the official version, manual scavenging is prevalent in the city, Dennis said. “Without an alternative mechanism, how is it possible to stop manual scavenging? Instead of forcing its workers to do the dirty job, the corporation should procure more machines to clean drains.” The workers employed for the job have no other alternatives, said general secretary of Adi Tamizhar Peravai R Ravi Kumar. “When sanitary inspectors ask them to get into drains, how can they say no? If they resist, they would be punished.” The civic body uses machines only to clean septic tanks and manholes, said Kumar. “Sanitary workers are forced to manually clean open drains on a regular basis. As per the norms, the corporation should provide safety gear including gloves, vests, shoes and masks to its workers. Once a while, just as a mere eyewash, the things would be distributed to some workers. But they wear out in no time due to bad quality.”

The corporation employs 6,000 sanitary workers, including contract labourers. Meanwhile, corporation officials promised to take action against the officials concerned if the charges are proven.